A new vision for creative activity and culture in Louth is being rolled out in 2023, following a €161,000 award for Louth County Council from government for Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies.
Minister Catherine Martin TD, Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD announced the roll out of 31 new Local Authority Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategies ( 2023-2027) at an event at Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park on 23rd February 2023.
Included in the launch was a new vision for creative activity in Louth that was devised in consultation with the people of the county and will be delivered by Louth County Culture and Creativity team led by Moya Hodgers - Creative Ireland Co-Ordinator and Acting Arts Officer.
The Louth County Culture and Creativity team also includes Paddy Donnelly, Director of Services, Joan Martin - Chief Executive, Moya Hodgers, Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Co-Ordinator, Brendan McSherry - County Heritage Officer, Brian Walsh - Curator, County Museum, Dundalk, Lorraine McCann - County Archivist, Linda Larrigan - Executive Librarian, Olivia McCormack – Public Realm, Sinead McVerry – Community, Anna Ryan – PPN, Susan Murphy – Economic Development and Grainne McKeown – Local Economic Enterprise (LEO) office.
Moya Hodgers explained: “Last year the Louth County Council Culture and Creativity team reviewed the original strategies that were devised in 2017 and made changes that reflected the evolving priorities of the community. The team linked together contributions from community stakeholders that will encourage people to engage, participate and enable their creative potential.”
“The new Louth County Council Culture and Creativity Strategy reflects the creative ambitions of the county that will be supported by the Creative Ireland Programme 2023-2027. Emphasis will be placed on supporting the Economic Development of Louth’s Creative Industries, Creative Economies and Creative Practice; enhancing Health and Well Being through Participation; supporting Climate Action, Natural Heritage, and our Environment; enhancing the Creative Abilities of our children and young people and promoting a sense of place and identity.”
Commenting on the work undertaken by the 31 local authority Culture and Creativity teams Minister Catherine Martin said. Your teams are the key strength of the Creative Communities initiative and the engine that drives our collective efforts. The agility of the local authority teams has facilitated a collaborative and flexible approach to reshaping how creativity and culture is valued within and across local authorities. Through the Creative Ireland Programme, my Department will continue to work with collaborators across Government to activate the power of creativity in every community.
Creative Ireland have to date allocated over €759,533.31 for the implementation of Creative Ireland initiatives in Louth County. Highlights include;
The Táin Tapestry – Curated by An Táin Arts Centre and funded by Creative Ireland the tapestry was a 5 county collaboration between Louth, Meath, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon. https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/news/an-tain-tapestry/
Seek Festival – Starting in 2019 by the BIDS office Dundalk and Creative Spark, and supported by Creative Ireland Louth, the SEEK festival aims to use murals and street art to promote local culture. https://www.seekdundalk.ie/
Leanbh Childrens Festival – Started in 2019 by Droichead Arts Centre with support from the Creative Ireland programme, this now annual festival focuses on creating access and cultural experiences for children up to age 12, including an extensive outreach programme. https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/event/leanbh/
Between 2017-22 Creative Ireland allocated €29.8 million to support thousands of local authority initiatives that have unlocked a national ecosystem of creativity. The 31 local authority Culture and Creative Strategies have been key to the successful delivery of creative opportunities directly into communities. This year Ministers Martin and O’Donnell announced funding of €6.1 million for the 2023 Creative Ireland Programme Creative Communities initiative.
Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell TD added: “I would like to sincerely thank all of the Culture and Creativity teams in our Local Authorities who have been working hard in recent months to drive the key ambitions in the Creative Ireland programme. Travelling around the country and to each of our Local Authorities I get to see the ambitious plans they have to promote creativity. The power of culture cannot be overestimated; arts and culture can open our minds, enliven our communities and enrich everyone’s lives,” he concluded.
For more information about Creative Ireland’s programme of Creative Communities initiatives please go to www.creativeireland.gov.ie
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